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Thread Art

Color and texture dominate this art quilting class. Learn stitches and shading to make colors and patterns pop in your collage or portrait quilts.

Combine your love of color, cloth and design in this adventurous class for quilters who want to command a rainbow of hues on their fabric palette. Lola Jenkins' quilt collages and fearless approach to design will inspire you, while her creative techniques will help you apply color and stitches to make your images pop. Fun-loving, make-no-rules Lola will teach you her seven-step process to stitching vivid, textured images, including her signature stitch, "Lola's Wiggle."

Lesson 2. Materials

Lesson 3. Choosing a Photo

Lola, a true artist's quilter, offers guidance on how to choose a copyright-free photo to use in your quilting.

8:34

Lesson 4. Line Drawing

Explore line drawing with Lola. Learn her tricks of the art-quilting trade and get detailed instruction along the way.

7:48

Lesson 5. Design

Learn best practices when it comes to cropping, shapes and other design elements. You'll have the scope of your quilt's image narrowed down in no time.

7:17

Lesson 6. Transferring Your Design

Transfer your design with Lola's help!

10:24

Lesson 7. Quilt Sandwich

Learn to fuse the interfacing and get started sewing. You'll finish off your quilt sandwich with Lola's easy-to-follow instruction.

19:46

Lesson 8. Stitch Out

Explore hatching and cross-hatching with Lola. She also demonstrates her famous Lola's Wiggle!

35:40

Lesson 9. Color: Part 1

Add color to the eyes of your portrait with Lola's helpful hints. You'll also learn how to correct and add shade before building folds and even more color.

19:03

Lesson 10. Color: Part 2

Finish the eyes and move onto the lips, face and hat. Color will bring your image alive as you quilt along with Lola.

9:39

Lesson 11. Gallery

Take a tour through Lola's gallery. You'll be impressed by the diverse images and be inspired by all of thread art's possibilities.

"This project was engrossing, fun, clearly instructed, and relatively easy to replicate. I love what I made! Thanks Lola for giving me a new way to express my creativity. I love art, but I could never draw very well. I also love sewing. This combines them both so well, I can't imagine not doing this all the time." - HobbyDoc

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Lesson plan

8:31

Lesson 1. Introduction

Meet Lola Jenkins, who will teach you how to turn images into richly colored and textured art quilts.

Lesson 2. Materials

Lesson 3. Choosing a Photo

Lola, a true artist's quilter, offers guidance on how to choose a copyright-free photo to use in your quilting.

8:34

Lesson 4. Line Drawing

Explore line drawing with Lola. Learn her tricks of the art-quilting trade and get detailed instruction along the way.

7:48

Lesson 5. Design

Learn best practices when it comes to cropping, shapes and other design elements. You'll have the scope of your quilt's image narrowed down in no time.

7:17

Lesson 6. Transferring Your Design

Transfer your design with Lola's help!

10:24

Lesson 7. Quilt Sandwich

Learn to fuse the interfacing and get started sewing. You'll finish off your quilt sandwich with Lola's easy-to-follow instruction.

19:46

Lesson 8. Stitch Out

Explore hatching and cross-hatching with Lola. She also demonstrates her famous Lola's Wiggle!

35:40

Lesson 9. Color: Part 1

Add color to the eyes of your portrait with Lola's helpful hints. You'll also learn how to correct and add shade before building folds and even more color.

19:03

Lesson 10. Color: Part 2

Finish the eyes and move onto the lips, face and hat. Color will bring your image alive as you quilt along with Lola.

9:39

Lesson 11. Gallery

Take a tour through Lola's gallery. You'll be impressed by the diverse images and be inspired by all of thread art's possibilities.

The instructor

Lola Jenkins, Instructor of Thread Art

Lola's unique style and creativity have captivated audiences at the Houston Quilt Festival, on The Quilt Show and in Quilt Life magazine. She has also earned numerous quilting awards from the Central Oklahoma Quilt Guild.

Ratings & reviews

Class rating

(158 reviews)

Lola Jenkins - Thread Art

by Lpipi on July 14, 2015

Just finished watching this class and ordered supplies. Can't wait to watch again and begin. This was by far one of the best classes I took on Craftsy. Lola Jenkins is so "real". It is inspiring to listen to her and watch her create. I hope she does more classes on the Craftsy platform.

Just finished watching this class and ordered supplies. Can't wait to watch again and begin. This was by far one of the best classes I took on Craftsy. Lola Jenkins is so "real". It is inspiring to listen to her and watch her create. I hope she does more classes on the Craftsy platform.

Thread Art

by bridgetrev on June 27, 2015

I am inspired and amazed by this art form. This talented teacher has a delightful personality and the work reflects her beautiful soul. Absolutely wonderful class. One of the best art effects in quilting. Thanks for teaching me!

I am inspired and amazed by this art form. This talented teacher has a delightful personality and the work reflects her beautiful soul. Absolutely wonderful class. One of the best art effects in quilting. Thanks for teaching me!

Now this is fun! Thanks Lola

by Ms Berri on June 24, 2015

Is there anything more enjoyable than spending some time with Lola as she shares her knowledge, talent, and enthusiasm for her art? Sit by her side as Lola shares secrets, reassures, and urges you to take chances and express yourself. Thank you Lola. I'm having a ball!

Is there anything more enjoyable than spending some time with Lola as she shares her knowledge, talent, and enthusiasm for her art? Sit by her side as Lola shares secrets, reassures, and urges you to take chances and express yourself. Thank you Lola. I'm having a ball!

Best Class

by shooter3956613 on May 27, 2015

I signed up for this class in 2012. It is one of the best classes that I have taken. I keep coming back for ideals . The class is taught like you the only one there and you just feel the passion.

I signed up for this class in 2012. It is one of the best classes that I have taken. I keep coming back for ideals . The class is taught like you the only one there and you just feel the passion.